Aledmys Diaz

Born on August 1, 1990, in Santa Clara, Cuba, Aledmys Diaz began his professional baseball career at 17, playing five seasons for Los Naranjas de Villa Clara in Cuba’s Serie Nacional (2008-2012). During this period, he maintained a .307 batting average across 342 games, demonstrating consistent performance in a utility role. Diaz also represented Cuba internationally, including at the 2010 World University Championship Games in Tokyo. His early career culminated in defection from Cuba in 2012 while on tour in the Netherlands, leading to a period where he played in the Mexican League until he was eligible to sign with Major League Baseball teams.

Diaz signed with the St. Louis Cardinals on March 11, 2014, making his MLB debut on April 5, 2016. His rookie year was marked by significant achievements, including being named a National League All-Star as an injury replacement, becoming the first Cardinals rookie All-Star since Albert Pujols in 2001. He finished fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting, batting .300 with 17 home runs and 65 RBIs in 111 games. After stints with the Toronto Blue Jays (2018) and Houston Astros (2019-2022), Diaz continued to showcase his versatility, playing multiple infield and outfield positions. A significant career highlight was winning the 2022 World Series championship with the Houston Astros.

Following his World Series win, Diaz joined the Oakland Athletics in 2023, where he played 109 games, demonstrating his adaptability by starting at six different positions. Despite challenges with injuries, including left hand fractures and groin strains, he maintained a career average of .259 with 78 home runs and 294 RBIs, accumulating expertise across numerous roles on the field. In July 2024, he rejoined the Houston Astros on a minor league contract before moving to the Mexican League with Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos in 2025.